Body sail

ABSTRACT

A floating device comprising a plurality of floats removably attachable to various, predetermined positions of the body such as the head, torso and feet wherein each float includes a portion specifically configured to engage, in supporting relation the specific area of the body to which it is attached. A sail and mast structure serves as a propelling means for the device and is removably attachable to each of the floats individually.

United States Patent [1 1 Dansereau Nov. 13, 1973 BODY SAIL [76] Inventor: Raymond C. Dansereau, 130-58th Ave., St. Petersburg, Fla.

[22] Filed: Aug. 19, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 173,000

521 US. Cl. 9/329 [51] Int. Cl. B631: 9/10 [58] Field of Search 9/311, 312, 313,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,037,220 6/1962 Jantzen 9/312 1,843,617 2/1932 Marshall...

3,012,257 12/1961 Mooney 9/333 Pobochenko 9/400 Armstrong 9/333 Primary ExaminerMilton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Att0mey--Stein & Orman [57] ABSTRACT A floating device comprising a plurality of floats removably attachable to various, predetermined positions of the body such as the head, torso and feet wherein each float includes a portion specifically configured to engage, in supporting relation the specific area of the body to which it is attached. A sail and mast structure serves as a propelling means for the device and is removably attachable to each of the floats individually.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHUY I 3 I973 ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR. RAYMOND C. DANSEREAU BY W y BODY SAIL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a floating device including a plurality of cooperatively positioned floats, removably attached to the human body and further including a propelling means such that the body may be supported in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to a body of water and propelled along the surface of the water upon actuation of the propelling means.

2. Description of the Prior Art A number of prior art devices are presently known which are primarily designed to support the human body in water. Generally, these devices can be segregated into catagories which include swimming aids, recreational devices such as rafts or small, single occupant propulsion devices such as floats.

The swimming aid and recreational type float devices are usually inflatable or alternately made ofa buoyant, lightweight material. Both of these types of devices however, suffer from the problem of being relatively flimsy and generally inefficient in operation. In addition, these conventional devices are generally intended for limiteduse and are more often particularly designed to maintain the body afloat rather than increase the efficiency in traveling through water.

Since modern day society has provided more free, recreational time to the average individual, various apparatus have been designed and made commercially available to aid in ones pleasure of this increased recreational activity. This is particularly true in the area of water sports. A primary concern however is providing these various apparatus on a low cost basis while making available to the public devices which are simple and efficient to operate and maintain at a reasonable cost. While all of these factors have generally been kept in mind, conventional recreational devices are still either generally inefficient due to the fact that they are being designed generally similar to prior art swimming aids and like floats or because they are overly complex. In the latter catagory a number of sail-floats are available which generally resemble a single occupant type sailing boat. Because of the complexity in structure which is somewhat common to thevast majority of these prior art devices, their initial expense,'trouble and cost of operation and maintenance and inefficiency of performance have rendered a large portion of these devices unattractive to the public at large.

Accordingly, it can be seen that there is a need for a recreational device readily adaptable for recreational activities on the water. Such a device should be initially inexpensive to obtain and manufacture and simple to operate and maintain by the user of such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device to be attached to the human body'thereby allowing it to be both supported on the surface of a body of water and simultaneously, if desired, be propelled along the surface of the water.

More specifically, the plurality of floats comprise a head float which includes a recess or indentation specifically configured to engage the rear of the head of the user of the device whereby the head may be rested on the float in a substantially horizontal, face-up orientation. In this position float connecting means in the form of straps are mounted on the head float so as to partially surround the forehead thereby removably securing the head float to the head. The side walls of the head float may be angularly oriented so as to be arranged in a convergent relation to one another thereby defining a configuration substantially the same as the bow of a boat.

The plurality of floats which comprise the floating device also includes a body float which has a somewhat arcuate configuration. This configuration allows the body float to engage the torso or mid section of the body in supporting relation thereto. More specifically, the body float is designed to fit on the body in the region between the midwaist and midchest and includes float connecting means in the form of straps attached to the float and designed to surround the body and fasten along the back. Accordingly, when the user of the device is in the water the body float will be positioned on the front of the body thereby allowing the user of the floating device to lie on his back and be supported on the surface of the water in a face-up, substantially horizontally oriented relation thereto.

A foot float is also included in the floating device and comprises an indented or recess area specifically shaped to supportingly engage the feet of the user of the floating device. Normally, two indentations are formed, one for each foot. The foot float may also include convergent, angularly oriented side walls which define a cutting or leading edge which allows the foot float to be configured in the generalshape of a bow of a boat similar to that of the head. A float connecting means in the form of a strap is designed to at least partially surround the feet. The feet are supported by the float such that the body of the user is arranged in a face-up relation in a substantially horizontal orientation to the surface of the water on which he is being supported.

A propelling means in the form of a sail and mast structure is capable of being removably mounted on each of the head, body and feet floats comprising the floating device. Attachment means for the sail comprises at least one socket located on each of the floats and being specifically configured to supportingly engage therein a portion of the mast structure. When properly assembled, the sail and mast structure would be arranged substantially perpendicular to the horizontal orientation of the user of the device and the surface of the body of the water.

In operation, the user of the floating device merely straps on the individual floats on the various portions of his body. Once the floats are properly positioned the sail and mast structure may be inserted in any of the three floats dependent upon the orientation which the user of the device may wish to travel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the floating device in operative position on the human body with the propulsion attached thereto. 4

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the head float.

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the body float of the floating device,

FIG. 5 is a end view of the body float as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6,-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the feet float of the float ing device.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the propulsion means of the present invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows the floating device of the present invention, generally indicated as 10, and comprising a plurality of floats specifically designed to be attached in supporting relation to various portions of the body. More specifically the plurality of floats comprises a head float 12, a body float l4 and a foot float 16.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the head foat 12 includes a recess or idented portion 18 which is specifically configured to have the head of the user rest therein. A float connecting means in the form of strap 20 is connected to the sides of 12 and/or may extend therethrough as shown in dotted lines of FIG. 2. A conventional buckle and tab member 22 and 24 respectively may be attached to opposite ends of strap 20 in order that the strap may be fastened about the forehead of the user as shown in FIG. 1. The head float 12 also comprises generally convergent side walls 26 and 28 which meet at leading edge 30. This specific configuration defines the head float in a form generally similar to that of a bow of a boat.

Body float 14 comprises an upper portion as shown in FIG. 1 which is somewhat arcuate shaped or shaped to fit the mid section of the body. Body float 14 is somewhat larger than the remaining of the plurality of the floats comprising the floating device and extends from approximately the midwaist to the midchest regions of the body. Because the body float comprises only a single piece, a portion of the body is submerged in the water. This prevents sliding of the body laterally. The body float also includes a float connecting means in the form of a strap 32 having a conventional type buckle and tab arrangement 22 and 24 as explained with reference to the head float.

As shown in FIG. 7, the foot float 16 includes a pair of indentations 34 and 36 each of which are adapted to engage in supporting relation thereto a foot of the user. Similar to the floats l2 and 14 as described above, foot float 16 also includes a float connecting means in the form of strap 38. The strap is either connected to each side of the float or extends therethrough as shown in FIG. 7. The strap further includes a conventional buckle 22 and tab 24 as previously described. FIG. 1 shows strap 38 securely fastened about the feet so as to secure float 16 relative thereto. Also shown in FIG. 1, when all the floats comprising the floating device are properly attached to the body, the body is maintained in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the surface of the body of water on which the user of the device is being supported.

A propelling means generally indicated in FIG. 8 as 40 comprises a sail 42 in a supporting horizontal and vertical mast as shown in FIG. 8, 44 and 46 respectively. The lower extremity of mast structure 46 is intended to be attached directly to at least one of the floats as shown in FIG. 1. An attachment means in the form of a socket 48 may be formed in each of the floats. Socket 48 is specifically configured to supportingly engage the end 50 of vertical mast 46. By virtue of this arrangement the sail and mast structure 40 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the horizontal orientation of the body when supported in the water. A sheet 52 and attachment means 54 are attached to the sail at an appropriate point 56 such that ocntrol of the sail relative to the floating device and dependent on the direction of wind may be accomplished. By virtue of this arrangement the device and the body to which it is attached may be adequately directed through the water by taking advantage of the existing wind currents. When the sail is mounted in the manner described above, steering of the device occurs by proper manipulation of the arms of the user of the float.

It will thus be seen that the objects made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understoodthat the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is: I

1. A floating device of the typeto support a human body in water, said device comprising: a plurality of floats mounted on different portions of the body, said plurality of floats comprises a head float contoured to engage the back of the head such that the head is substantially horizontally oriented in a face-up relation to the surface of the water, a body float configured to substantially fit the top portion torso of the body and extend between the regions of the body comprising the midwaist to at least the midchest to float at least a por tion of the body beneath the surface of the water, and a foot float contoured to engage to support the feet of the body, said head float includes angularly oriented side walls defining a leading'edge portion of said head float, connecting means mounted on each of said plurality of floats to removably attach said floats to said body, propelling means comprising a sail and a mast structure connected in supporting relation thereto mounted on at least one of said floats and attachment means formed on at least one of said plurality of floats, said attachment means comprises at least one socket configured to supportingly engage said mast such that said sail is in cooperative propelling relation to the body on which said device is attached, said device further including control means attached to said propelling means and said float to control the position of said sail relative to said corresponding float whereby coordination of the body moving said plurality of floats relative to each other and position of said sail relative to the body provide directional control to said device.

2. A floating device as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is mounted on each of said plurality of floats said mast being removably positionable in each of said sockets, whereby said propelling means is removably connected to each of said plurality of floats.

straps such that said straps are removably positionable about said body so as to removably secure each of said plurality of floats to a predetermined portion of the body. 

1. A floating device of the type to support a human body in water, said device comprising: a plurality of floats mounted on different portions of the body, said plurality of floats comprises a head float contoured to engage the back of the head such that the head is substantially horizontally oriented in a face-up relation to the surface of the water, a body float configured to substantially fit the top portion torso of the body and extend between the regions of the body comprising the midwaist to at least the midchest to float at least a portion of the body beneath the surface of the water, and a foot float contoured to engage to support the feet of the body, said head float includes angularly oriented side walls defining a leading edge portion of said head float, connecting means mounted on each of said plurality of floats to removably attach said floats to said body, propelling means comprising a sail and a mast structure connected in supporting relation thereto mounted on at least one of said floats and attachment means formed on at least one of said plurality of floats, said attachment means comprises at least one socket configured to supportingly engage said mast such that said sail is in cooperative propelling relation to the body on which said device is attached, said device further including control means attached to said propelling means and said float to control the position of said sail relative to said corresponding float whereby coordination of the body moving said plurality of floats relative to each other and position of said sail relative to the body provide directional control to said device.
 2. A floating device as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is mounted on each of said plurality of floats said mast being removably positionable in each of said sockets, whereby said propelling means is removably connected to each of said plurality of floats.
 3. A floating device as in claim 1 wherein the float connecting means comprises strap means mounted on each of the floats in such a manner as to surround a portion of the body engaged by each of said plurality of floats, and strap connecting means mounted on said straps such that said straps are removably positionable about said body so as to removably secure each of said plurality of floats to a predetermined portion of the body. 